Day-date watch correction means

ABSTRACT

A day-date watch wherein the setting stem can be axially positioned to adjust a correction wheel-and-pinion meshing with a setting wheel, wherein in one position the day or date can be corrected and in another position the time can be set.

United States Patent MeyIan-Piguet July 1, 1975 DAY-DATE WATCHCORRECTION MEANS [56] References Cited [75] Inventor: MariusMeylan-Pi'uet, LOrient, UNITED STATES PATENTS Switzerland 3,691,7569/:972 Ono 58/58 [73] Assignee: Sociee Suisse P lvlmstrk 3,775,966l2/l973 Matsuora 58/58 Horlogere Manage-sent Services SA" Bierme,Switzerland Primary Examiner-George H. Mlller, .lr. I Attorney, Agent,or FirmStevens, Davis, Miller & [22] Filed: Aug. 5, 1974 Mosher {2]}App]. No.: 494,883

[57] ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priority Data A day-date watchwherein the setting stem can be axi- Aug. 17, 1973 Switzerland 11903/73y POSi'dOIfled to adjust a wrreclio" wheel-andminion meshing with asetting wheel, wherein in one position 52 [1.5. CI. 58/58 the y r te cane corrected and in another posi- [5 1] Int. Cl. G04b 19/24 n h m n beset. [58] Field of Search 58/4, 5, 58

6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 1 DAY-DATE WATCH CORRECTION MEANS Thisinvention relates to a calendar watch movement comprising two coaxialindicator members indicating the day and the date, respectively, acontrol stem capable of occuping several positions determined by axialdisplacement, a setting-lever cooperating with the control stern, aclutch-wheel mounted on a square of the stem, a yoke controlled by thesetting-lever and controlling the clutch-wheel. and a setting-wheelwhich is engaged with the clutch-wheel is at least one of the positionsof the stem.

It will well known that calendar timepieces, especially those having aday-indicating member and a dateindicating member, are generallyequipped with a correction mechanism making it possible to set these twoindicating members to the correct day and date quickly and by means of asimple operation. Thus certain day/- date watches are equipped withcorrection mechanisms which enable the day and date to be set bymanipulating only the control stem which, in mechanical timepieces, alsoserves for winding the mainspring. However, the known mechanisms forcarrying out these operations are complicated and bulky. They generallycomprise a large number of different parts between the control elementand the correction wheel-and-pinion, which increases the cost price andthe size of the watch. Moreover, the complicated mechanisms are oftenless reliable that simple mechanisms.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a correctionmechanism, especially for use in calendar wrist-watches, which comprisesa minimum number of parts, is easy to mount, and is reliable inoperation.

To this end, in the calendar watch movement according to the presentinvention, the setting-wheel is integral with an arbor which projectsfrom each of its faces, a correction lever pivots by friction fitting onan arbor and carries a correction wheel-and-pinion provided with atoothing engaged with the setting-wheel, the arbor is movable intranslation, at least one of its ends being engaged in an elongated slotin a fixed frame element, and cooperates with the clutch-wheel in twopositions of the stem, and the yoke has an auxiliary arm which extendsat the level of one of the projecting portions of the arbor and whichdisplaces the arbor in the elongated slot when the stem is moved betweenone of the positions, being the correction position, and the otherposition, being the setting position.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described withreference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 are plan views of the mechanism in winding position,correction position, and setting position, respectively, certain partsbeing broken away, and

FIG. 4 is section taken on the line lVlV of FIG. 2,

on a larger scale.

The timepiece illustrated in the drawing is a mechanical calendarwrist-watch comprising a date-indicating member 1, consisting of a ringwith an inner toothing 2, and a day-indicating indicating member 3,comprising a l4-tooth star integral with a disc 4 (FIG. 4). The disc 4bears the indications of the days of the week on its upper face. Themembers 1 and 3 move beneath a circular dial 5 having apertures (notshown), and above the dial 5 move hands driven by the movement. Thewheel-trains of the movement will not be described here. Its framecomprises a base plate 7 and various bridges, among which is a barrelbridge 8. The base plate 7 has radial openings in it so as to ensure theguiding and pivoting of a winding and setting stem 9 of conventionalform which exhibits in particular a groove 10 in which is engaged a studll of a setting-lever 12 mounted on a screw 13. A winding-pinion 14,which meshes with a crown-wheel l5, pivots about the stem 9, turning ona collet protruding from the lower face of the base plate 7. it is heldin place by a washer l6 and by the bridge 8. A clutch-wheel 1?,controlled by a yoke 18 cooperating with the setting-lever l2, slides ona square of the stem 9.

As will be seen further on, the mechanism shown in the drawing is athree-position mechanism, so that a setting-lever spring 19, which holdsthe setting-lever 12 and the yoke 18 in place in the direction of theaxis of the watch, hasthree notches 20, 20a, and 20b, into each of whicha beak 12a of the setting-lever l2 enters in succession when the stem 9is pulled. The beak 12a is bend upwards slightly so as to reach thelever of the setting-lever spring 19. A beak 12b of the setting-lever 12controls the yoke 18, against which a yoke spring 21 presses, and whichcan assume three different positions according to the position of thestem 9.

The yoke 18 is blanked with lateral arm 22, bent slightly downwards, andpasses in front of the clutchwheel 17 and above the stem 9. Above theaxis of the stem 9, the arm 22 has a hollow 23 adapted to engage on thelower end of an arbor 24, consisting of a simple cylindrical pin, ontowhich a setting-wheel 25 is driven. This latter part may be mounted in arecess in the base plate 7 in such a way that the lower end of the arbor24 could enter an undercut in the bottom of that recess, in whichundercut the arm 22 of the yoke 18 would likewise extend. At its upperend, the arbor 24 is guided by a mechanism bridge 26 fixed on the baseplate 7 and extending under the dial 5. This bridge 26 serves for themounting of the mechanism assembly described. As may be seen in FIG. 4,it carries the date-ring l and the day-star 3. For guiding the arbor 24of the settingwheel 25, it has an elongated slot 27, the width of whichis adapted to that of the arbor 24 and which extends in a directionwhich is slightly oblique as compared with that of the axis of the stem9. As will be seen further on, this direction is perpendicular to thatof the line joining the center of the slot 27 and the pivoting axis ofthe yoke 18. The mechanism bridge 26 also carries a hairpin spring 28which presses against the arbor 24 and tends to push it towards the endof the slot 27 nearest the periphery of the movement.

Also mounted on the mechanism bridge 26 is a correction wheel-and-pinion29. It is composed of a fourarmed 30, of an arbor 31, on the upper endof which the star 30 is clinched and the middle part of which passesthrough a rectangular opening 32 in the bridge 26, and of a correctionpinion 33 driven onto a smalldiameter cylindrical bearing surface at thelower end of the arbor 31 at the level of the setting-wheel 25. Thelower bearing surface of the arbor 31 is prolonged under the pinion 33in an undercut which serves to accomodate the lower end of the arbor 24and the arm 22 of the yoke 18. This unndercut is made in a retainingplate 37 fixed to the base plate 7. The plate 37 might also be made inone piece with the base plate 7. Thus in a certain position, the end ofthe arm 22 may also come in contact with the lower end of the arbor 31.

As may be seen in FIG. 4, the setting-wheel 25 and the pinion 33 are notsituated immediately below the bridge 26, for a correction lever 34, theplan shape of which is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, is mounted betweenthose elements. The lever 34 has two circular openings; one is frictionfitted on the arbor 24, and through the other the arbor 31 passesfreely. These openings are so spaced from one another that thesetting-whee] 25 and the pinion 33 are kept constantly engaged with onean other.

Before turning to an explanation of the operation of the mechanismdescribed, mention should be made of the presence of a banking 35,consisting of a cylindrical stud projecting downwards from the bridge26, and a hollow 36 in the edges of the lever 34.

FIG. 1 shows the mechanism in the winding position. The stem 9 is pushedin all the way, so that the beak 12a of the setting-lever 12 is engagedin the notch of the setting-lever spring 19. The yoke presses theBrequet toothing of the clutch-wheel 17 into the correspondong Brequettoothing of the winding-pinion 14 owing to the action of the yoke spring21. These elements of the mechanism are completely conventional parts,and they perform their normal winding function here. The hairpin spring28 causes the arbor 24 of the setting-wheel to press against the outerend of the slot 27; but in this position, the setting-wheel 25 isdisengaged from the winding-pinion 14. The lever 34 may oscillate freelybetween two positions without its position having an influence of anykind. In FIG. 1, a cylindrical bearing surface 310 of the arbor 31presses against the inner flank of the opening 32, and it will be seenthat the toothing of the star meshes with the toothing of the day-star3. However, inasmuch as the setting-wheel 25 is free to rotate about itsaxis, if the calendar mechanism is called upon to switch the daystar 3to a new position, the star 30 will not constitute any hindrance. Thelever 34 could likewise rotate about the axis of the arbor 24 until thebearing surface 310 of the arbor 31 strikes against the outer flank ofthe opening 32, which would bring the toothing of the star 30 intoengagement with the toothing 2 of the datering', but in this position,too, the engagement of the toothings of the star 30 and the date-ring 1has no influence. It will also be noted that in the position shown inFIG. 1, the lateral arm 22 of the yoke 18 extends in the vicinity of theaxial toothing of the clutch-wheel 17, so that the hollow 23 is movedaway from the arbor 24. The part played by this hollow 23 will becomeapparent only in another position, as will be seen later on.

FIG. 2 shows the positions occupied by the various members of themechanism when the stem 9 has been pulled out into its middle orcorrection position. The setting-lever 12 is so positioned that its beak120 has passed into the notch 20a of the setting-lever spring 19', andits beak 12a, sliding along the edge of the yoke 18, has moved thelatter so that the axial toothing of the clutch-wheel 17 has come tomesh with the settingwheel 25. The latter has not undergone anytranslatory motion. The hairpin spring 28 is therefore still pressingthe arbor 24 against the outer end of the slot 27. However, the hollow23 is now engaged on the lower end of the arbor 24, so that the arbor 24is guided at least partially by its upper end engaged in the slot 27 andby its lower end engaged in the hollow 23. If, in that position, thestem 9 is turned counterclockwise, as view in the direction of the arrowA in FIG. 2, the setting-wheel 25 is driven clockwise by theclutch-wheel 17, and the correction wheel-and-pinion 29 is drivencounterclockwise. At the same time, owing to the friction between thelever 34 and the arbor 24, the lever 34 tends to pivot clockwise and,consequently, to press the bearing surface 31a of the arbor 31 againstthe flank of the opening 32. All these conditions favor the guiding ofthe setting-wheel 25, which will drive the correction wheel-and-pinion29 while its toothing remains engaged with that of the day-star 3. Thusthe day-star 3 is rotated step by step clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 2,which produces the correction of the day-indicating member.

The normal direction of rotation of the day-star 3 is counterclockwise,i.e, the reverse of the correction direction. Thus it is impossible tocorrect the day when the calendar-driving mechanism is engaged with theday-star 3', for upon turning the stem 9, a tooth of the corrector 29 isblocked by a tooth of the day-star 3. The star 30 of the corrector 29 isfriction-mounted on the arbor 31 connecting it to the pinion 33, whichthus enables the wheel 25 and the pinion 33 to rotate without causingany damage.

If, on the contrary, the stem 9 is turned clockwise, as viewed in thedirection of the arrow A in FIG. 2, the setting-wheel 25 is drivencounterclockwise; and as a result of the friction existing between thearbor 24 and the corresponding opening in the lever 34, the latter willlikewise be rotatingly driven in the same direction. This rotation islimited by the bearing surface 310 of the arbor 31 striking against theouter flank of the opening 32. The correction wheel-and-pinion 29 willbe disengaged from the toothing of the day-star 3 and will enter thetoothing 2 of the date-ring 1. At the same time, it is rotatingly drivenclockwise and will thus cause the date-ring 1 to turn in the samedirection, thus effecting the step-by-step correction of thedateindicating member. The respective positions of the two indicatingmembers for the day and the date are, of course, normally fixed byjumpers, one acting upon the toothing of the member 3 and the other uponthe toothing 2. Upon correction of the date-ring 1, too, the spring 28acts upon the arbor 24 so as to press its upper end against the outerend of the slot 27 and its lower end into the hollow 23 of the arm 22.In this position (not shown) the flank of the hollow 36 of the lever 34rests against the banking 35, thus keeping the toothings of thesetting-wheel 25 and the clutch-wheel 17 engaged during the effort ofmoving the date-ring 1.

FIG. 3 shows the winding-stem 9 in its outermost position, i.e., in thesetting position. The beak 12a of the setting-lever 12 has passed intothe notch 20b of the setting-lever spring 19, and the beak 12a,continuing to act upon the edge of the yoke 18, has caused a newrotation of the latter, consequently moving the clutchwheel 17 closer tothe center of the movement than in the position of FIG. 2. During thisdisplacement, the arm of the yoke 18 has caused a displacement of thesetting-wheel 25, for the hollow 23 in contact with the arbor 24 hasmoved this arbor so that its upper end travels the whole length of theslot 27, and this against the counteraction of the spring 28. So thatthe hollow 23 may be arcuate, the alignment of the slot 27 isperpendicular to the line joining the center of this slot to thepivoting point of the yoke 18. The movement of the setting-wheel 25obviously results in a displacement of the lever 34. The translation ofits pivoting point brings the deepest part of the hollow 36 along itsinner edge up against the banking 35, so that at the same time, the

lever 34 makes a rotating movement. On the other hand, once the settingposition has been reached, the banking 35 is in contact with the deepestpart of the hollow 36, so that any clockwise rotation of the lever 34 isprevented. As may be seen in FIG. 3, the end of 5 the arm 22 of the yoke18 is likewise in contact with the lower end of the arbor 31, whichprevents any counterclockwise rotation of the lever 34. The arm 22, thehollow 36, and the banking 35 thus constitute means for blocking thelever 34, and in the setting position, they keep the lever 34 in aposition such that the setting correction star 30 meshes neither withthe day-star 3 nor with the date-ring 1. Thus the lever 34 is blocked inan inoperative position.

A minute-wheel 38 is disposed on the base plate 7 in such a way that thesetting-wheel 25 meshes with its wheel-toothing when the wheel 25 isbrought into the position shown in FIG. 3. Thus a rotation of the stem 9is transmitted to the clutch-wheel 17 via the square 9a, from the wheel17 to the wheel 25, and from the wheel 25 to the minute-wheel 38. Thestem 9 may be turned in one direction or the other. The lever 34 remainscontinuously in the position shown in FIG. 3, and the correctionwheel-and-pinion 29 idles with the setting-wheel 25.

All in all, the mechanism described comprises just three parts more thana conventional two-position winding and setting mechanism: thecorrection lever 34, the spring 28, and the correction wheel-and-pinion29. The mechanism as a whole is so arranged as to operate reliably withno risk of jamming. Moreover, the mechanism may be mounted very simply.In particular, thanks to the mechanism bridge 26 on which the correctionwheel-and-pinion 29, the correction lever 34, and the setting-wheel 25with its return-spring may be mounted in advance, the fitting of themechanism is considerably simplified.

Although the foregoing embodiment has to do with a mechanical watch, theessential elements of the mechanism described above might also be usedin an electrical timepiece. The winding position would then be a neutralor inoperative position.

What is claimed is:

l. A calendar watch movement comprising two coaxial indicator membersindicating the day and the date, respectively, a control stem capable ofoccupying several positions determined by axial displacement, asetting-lever cooperating with said control stem, a clutchwheel mountedon a square of said stem, a yoke controlled by said setting-lever andcontrolling said clutchwheel, and a setting-wheel which is engaged withsaid clutch-wheel in at least one of the positions of said stem, whereinsaid setting-wheel is integral with an arbor which projects from each ofits faces, a correction lever pivots by friction fitting on said arborand carries a correction wheel-and-pinion provided with a toothingengaged with said setting-wheel, said arbor is movable in translation,at least one of its ends being engaged in an elongated slot in a fixedframe element, and cooperates with said clutch-wheel in two positions ofsaid stem, and said yoke has an auxiliary arm which extends at the levelof one of the projecting portions of said arbor and displaces said arborin said elongated slot when said stem is moved between one of saidpositions, being the correction position, and the other of saidpositions, being the setting position.

2. A movement in accordance with claim 1, wherein said correctionwheel-and-pinion comprises a further arbor, engaged in an opening insaid correction lever so as to pivot in said opening, and a starintegral with said further arbor and situated at the level of saidindicator members, and wherein said further arbor passes through anelongated opening in said frame element.

3. A movement in accordance with claim 1, wherein one of the saidprojecting parts of said arbor cooperates with a spring which tends tokeep said arbor in contact with one of the ends of said elongated slot,and the displacement of said arbor by said auxiliary arm is effectedagainst the action of said spring.

4. A movement in accordance with claim 3 wherein, one said spring keepssaid arbor pressed against one of the ends of said elongated slot, saidcorrection lever is oscillatingly rotatable about said arbor, theamplitude of the oscillating movement being such that said correctionwheel-and-pinion meshes with one of said indicator members in each ofthe end positions.

5. A movement in accordance with claim 4, further comprising a fixedbanking disposed at the level of one of the edges of said correctionlever and limiting the oscillating rotation of said correction leverabout said arbor, said banking cooperating with said correction lever soas to prevent said correction wheel-and-pinion from actuating one saidindicator member when said stem is in the setting position but allowingsaid correction wheel-and-pinion to actuate said one indicator memberwhen said stem is in the correction position.

6. A movement in accordance with claim 5, wherein said auxiliary armfaces a part of said correction wheeland-pinion and constitutes abanking element which, in the correction position, allows saidcorrection wheeland-pinion to become engaged with the other saidindicator member, and in the setting position, prevents said correctionwheel-and-pinion from meshing with said other indicator member.

* 1 1' I II

1. A calendar watch movement comprising two coaxial indicator membersindicating the day and the date, respectively, a control stem capable ofoccupying several positions determined by axial displacement, asetting-lever cooperating with said control stem, a clutch-wheel mountedon a square of said stem, a yoke controlled by said setting-lever andcontrolling said clutchwheel, and a setting-wheel which is engaged withsaid clutchwheel in at least one of the positions of said stem, whereinsaid setting-wheel is integral with an arbor which projects from each ofits faces, a correction lever pivots by friction fitting on said arborand carries a correction wheel-and-pinion provided with a toothingengaged with said setting-wheel, said arbor is movable in translation,at least one of its ends being engaged in an elongated slot in a fixedframe element, and cooperates with said clutch-wheel in two positions ofsaid stem, and said yoke has an auxiliary arm which extends at the levelof one of the projecting portions of said arbor and displaces said arborin said elongated slot when said stem is moved between one of saidpositions, being the correction position, and the other of saidpositions, being thhe setting position.
 2. A movement in accordance withclaim 1, wherein said correction wheel-and-pinion comprises a furtherarbor, engaged in an opening in said correction lever so as to pivot insaid opening, and a star integral with said further arbor and situatedat the level of said indicator members, and wherein said further arborpasses through an elongated opening in said frame element.
 3. A movementin accordance with claim 1, wherein one of the said projecting parts ofsaid arbor cooperates with a spring which tends to keep said arbor incontact with one of the ends of said elongated slot, and thedisplacement of said arbor by said auxiliary arm is effected against theaction of said spring.
 4. A movement in accordance with claim 3 wherein,one said spring keeps said arbor pressed against one of the ends of saidelongated slot, said correction lever is oscillatingly rotatable aboutsaid arbor, the amplitude of the oscillating movement being such thatsaid correction wheel-and-pinion meshes with one of said indicatormembers in each of the end positions.
 5. A movement in accordance withclaim 4, further comprising a fixed banking disposed at the level of oneof the edges of said correction lever and limiting the oscillatingrotation of said correction lever about said arbor, said bankingcooperating with said correction lever so as to prevent said correctionwheel-and-pinion from actuating one said indicator member when said stemis in the setting position but allowing said correction wheel-and-pinionto actuate said one indicator memBer when said stem is in the correctionposition.
 6. A movement in accordance with claim 5, wherein saidauxiliary arm faces a part of said correction wheel-and-pinion andconstitutes a banking element which, in the correction position, allowssaid correction wheel-and-pinion to become engaged with the other saidindicator member, and in the setting position, prevents said correctionwheel-and-pinion from meshing with said other indicator member.